Everton v Leicester City. 22nd Feb at 14.05.

[MACCA75]

Two things for definite anyway. Robles and Gibson need to come into the team.

 

[deipnosophist]

On the bright side, we today made points inroads into over hauling Newcastle

 

[bainesontoast]

If Gibson is fit, he should, not only be 1st on the sheet along with McCarthy, he should be captain. His leadership today - shouting orders and pointing to where the ball should be played - showed us what we lack having the reticent Jagielka wearing the armband. Oh, and he's also a good ball player with an attacking mentality

Unfortunately mate, I stopped reading here.

 

[Big_nev]

Must literally be me who thought gibson was average, he just passed it sideways and offered nothing different.

Nice to see him fit again which will last about three games. But if i'm honest the game opened up because of other players, not him.

Gibson was spreading the ball about though pulling Leicester around the pitch opening up the space for others. The way he was playing incisive passes to the wings was reminiscent of how Utd used to unlock teams under Ferguson.

 

[froggyted]

Our first two subs were positive at least. Gibson can play a forward pass and should at least be used when Barry isn't playing, and Atsu makes good runs.....I also thought Lennon showed what an asset he will be. Naismith our man of the match despite the naysayers. At one point in the second half he headed clear two successive corners and seconds later was holding the ball in the Leicester half. If the rest of the team had as much desire, we would be a far better team.

I totally agree with this, Naismith is a 100%er every time and has lots of ability to go with it. I don't understand most of the flak he gets on here. He is contender for player of the season at the moment imo.

 

[Toffeelover]

Martinez needs to go and take kenwright with him won't happen tho

I would settle for just RM grabbing a taxi!

 

[The Mighty Quint]

Its ok only arsenal next we will bounce back

As crazy as it sounds we do better against the likes of Arsenal, it's the teams who shut up shop and park the bus we can't deal with.

 

[Hungariansupport]

Must literally be me who thought gibson was average, he just passed it sideways and offered nothing different.

Nice to see him fit again which will last about three games. But if i'm honest the game opened up because of other players, not him.

I felt that too. Obviously he offered more in attack than Besic but the defence was 3 times worse than the 1st half. But maybe it was just because McCarthy didn't have a decent game today tbh. If RM wants more in attack play Gibson, if he wants more in defence play the other three. There are options, they are good DMs he just needs to find the right balance. If all of them fit there can be variations against different opponents - he just seems clueless about that...

 

[kenada_blue]

That 1st goal though. WTF. Howard and Jags (was it?) Just missed it. A low ball. Near post.

 

[Jimmy Flangemoth]

Can't wait to see Gibson again. Next season.

 

[marty mcfly]

I'm more worried about how we play during the game. The whole team take the safe option. Instead of playing the ball round the corner it goes back. Instead of getting the ball to the byline it goes back.

Don't get me wrong. The players all have to also take a lot of blame. Howard was woeful and Baines looked to be a player coming back from injury. Lukaku should have had a hat-trick but he also did a lot of good things. It just wasn't his day.

However we're 6 points clear or the drop and there's teams more hopeless than us so I'm not really worried however its not good enough and I hate watching us. I'm sick and tired of the negative tactics.

We'll see what the situation is in the summer but the fans aren't happy.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

You're joking, right? Don't blame Howard for this debacle, blame the guys upfront for one inept strike after another. In fact, the attempts at goal stat itself (18 shots, 3!!! on target) is appalling against a team we should have been taking three points off.

if Howard doesn't make 2 howlers, we win.

 

[Jags]

Positives:
Gibson looked good
Atsu also looked an option
Lennon wasn't as crap as I thought, but he's still not great.
Stones is the Rolls Royce of centre backs
Coleman back near his best.
We didn't lose

Negatives
Lukaku. It happens.
Naismith is crap. Like honestly our worst footballer.
Howard. But this is so normal it's almost not worth noting.
We didn't win

 

[Jib in lad]

Playing within themselves a mental block in the league games its just so bloody sad after last season.

 

[matty1878]

As crazy as it sounds we do better against the likes of Arsenal, it's the teams who shut up shop and park the bus we can't deal with.

Leicester didn't park it and we was at home